Ah, the first signs of Fall are here! I'm sitting at the little breakfast nook in my kitchen, taking it all in.
I was reading about our heroine in Proverbs this morning, and this verse really cuts me to the core every time. She is a woman who works hard at everything, both day and night. Her joy comes from the success of her labor. As an overseer of a trade, the Proverbs woman keeps herself accountable to seeing that her skills and jobs produce financial fruit. Now I know that not everyone is of a business-oriented/administrative nature, but I think if you are in fact cut from that cloth, God expects you to put your all into it.
This reminds me of my photography business. I don't consider myself a shrewd business woman, however I have made a little business out of a seemingly hopeless situation. During my last few semesters of college, I was really doubting my choice of major (it was in the humanities), and was regretting not having more time for a photography hobby that was starting to blossom. It is a scary thing to realize you are almost done obtaining a degree and that you still have no clue about your life's direction! They don't prepare you for that one in college.
Anyways, that idea consumed my prayers during the final semester of school. And God, working in mysterious ways as He always does, showed me that He wanted me to pursue this photography idea further. It was scary to trust that He was giving me a real plunge to take with an artistic occupation. I've always felt guilty for enjoying art so much because I questioned how I could help people with it. Silly child. He is such an amazing, loving, wonderful Father, and He knew He could and would use me in the lives of people no matter what job position I filled. I always kick myself after I doubt Him.
I think as Christians, we are not known for our business skills. But the ironic part of this reality is that we ought to be known for our wisdom and success in the business world! I think that we miss the mark at taking ownership of the job that God has provided for us, and instead we confuse success and gain as selfish ambition. There have been a few times where I have felt taken advantage of by clients, who have either stiffed me or asked what I consider too much (more than what my job was). I realized after some wise counsel that God does not expect us to be passive doormats, but instead to be a little more regimented. Self-discipline is where I am going with this. If we are going to run a business, we need to be able to discipline that as well as ourselves. We ought not to be controlled by our jobs, however we are to be actively involved in seeing a lucrative outcome.
It is like the parable of the talents. Jesus was trying to tell his disciples that when God puts you in charge of something, it is your duty to go out and make it work. 'Master...you have entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained you five more (Matthew 25:20).' It is something good, that pleases the Master. Our thinking has become backwards, mistaking God's plans for us, and eliminating our active roles in everyday life. He expects us to do great things in His name, so that His wisdom and power may be known.
The woman of Proverbs 31 is daily attentive to bringing an income to the table. Her ambitions are not selfish because she is doing it to Praise God, and bless her family. After much reflection, I see now that I have been half-hearted in my professional endeavors. I was not the woman in Proverbs 31:18, nor was I the man in the parable of the talents. I thought that was supposed to kick back and wait for God to send me work...I was deceived, thinking that the necessary, genuine hard work it takes to keep a business going was my being too controlling. Oh God please forgive me, and lead me in your wisdom! I am ready for a change. I am ready to go out and work for you.
Praise to the God who has plans for our prosperity and not our harm...Plans to give us hope and a future!
Amen,
C.W.
